Lippes Mathias LLP announced that three of its West Palm Beach partners, Bari L. Goldstein, Michael J Posner, and Philip H. Ward, III, were named to Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2025 list of Top Lawyers. 

The list was compiled by Palm Beach Illustrated in partnership with Professional Research Services. Licensed Palm Beach County attorneys were asked which of their peers they would recommend in specific practice areas, excluding themselves. Attorneys could nominate up to three colleagues per category. Nominees were reviewed based on survey results, the status of their licenses, and their standing with The Florida Bar. Attorneys who received the highest number of votes qualified for inclusion. 

Goldstein was recognized in the labor and employment law category, Posner in real estate law, and Ward in business/corporate law. 

About Bari L. Goldstein 

Bari Goldstein, a member of Lippes Mathias’ Employment Practice, focuses her practice on preventative labor and employment defense work and represents and counsels private, not-for-profit, and public sector employers of all sizes on varied regulatory, administrative, and litigation issues that affect all aspects of the employment relationship. As a seasoned and credentialed human resources professional, Bari serves as a strategic partner to her clients and strives to provide timely and practical legal advice and guidance specific to each client’s industry and size regarding compliance issues, business decisions, risk management, and litigation avoidance. With over 25 years of experience representing employers and managers on labor employment matters, Bari regularly: 

Advises and counsels on day-to-day personnel issues, wage and hour matters, internal investigations, RIFs and layoffs, as well as employee relations; 

Drafts, edits, and reviews employee handbooks and policies, severance and employment agreements, job descriptions, and various employment forms; 

Drafts responses and appears at mediations, on-site audits, and investigations by governmental agencies (e.g., OFCCP, DOL, ICE, and EEOC) involving complaints of discrimination, I-9 compliance, unemployment claims, and wage and hour issues; and, 

Represents and advises federal contractors during OFCCP audits and counsels clients on issues stemming from AAP obligations and requirements. 

Bari is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She is also a qualified EEO investigator. 

About Michael J Posner 

Michael Posner has spent the last 30 years honing his craft as a real estate and business lawyer in South Florida. Michael’s practice covers a wide gamut of real estate and business issues from closing transactions for residential and commercial deals, lender, seller, and borrower representation in new purchase, loan, and refinance transactions, complex title issues, and representation of condominium and homeowner associations. 

Michael’s commitment to the community includes service on a variety of municipal boards, including his current position as the Special Magistrate for the Village of Wellington and the City of Parkland. Michael also serves as a United States Housing and Urban Development Foreclosure Commissioner. Michael also serves as an expert witness in complex real estate and title cases, including matters on behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation. 

About Philip H. Ward, III 

Philip Ward focuses his practice on complex business transactions, contracts, commercial real estate, commercial lending, and a myriad of other business issues. He also has considerable experience with intellectual property transactions, including development contracts and licensing transactions in the U.S., as well as international transactions. His licensing practice has included such diverse products as hydrogen PEM fuel cells, streaming and other software licenses, and new varieties of plants in the Florida citrus industry. 

A prominent community member, Mr. Ward is a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Council, Advisory Board Member, FAU Tech Runway, Vice Chairman and Trustee, BIZPAC, and a Member of the Business Development Board. He also previously served as Chairman of the Business Development Board, former Chairman of the Palm Beach County Health Care District, former Chairman of the Palm Beach County Infrastructure Surtax Independent Citizen Oversight Committee and served as a Trustee of Palm Beach State College. Mr. Ward was appointed to the Health Care District and Palm Beach State College by former Governor Rick Scott. 

Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, Mr. Ward served as the Managing Partner of Ward Damon P.L., which he founded in 1987. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 220-plus attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.